Children and young people

Emotional wellbeing

What happens in early life impacts on emotional and physical health all the way to adulthood. Therefore a significant priority of our current Health and Wellbeing Strategy is 'Best Start in Life', which is focused on readiness for schools.

However, we also recognise that emotional health and wellbeing must be emphasised as the child continues into their school life and there are a number of services and schemes available locally which work to support this aim.

CAMHS

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) comprises at team of mental health professionals offering a range of treatments and support for children and young people aged 0 to 18 who experience, for example low mood, anxiety, depression, phobias, eating disorders, and behavioural problems.

Referrals to CAMHS can be made by:

schools
GP’s
youth services
youth offending services
health and social care professionals

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies - (IAPT) can help with a range of common problems including low mood and anxiety disorders. For people aged 16 or over [but who can still be at school]. Their team includes:

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) who are skilled at helping people find practical ways to manage their difficulties
CBT Therapists who are trained to deliver individual and group cognitive behavioural therapy
Counsellors who are trained to provide an opportunity to talk about day-to-day difficulties as well as difficulties from the past

Therapy can take place over the phone, face-to-face or online. They offer assessments and therapy in English, Turkish, Greek, Farsi, Polish and other languages and interpreters are available on request.

The IAPT service is a partnership between Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and Whittington Health

Good thinking

Good Thinking is a digital service that helps Londoners look after their mental health and wellbeing in a way that works for them. They provide personalised advice, support and resources to help people struggling with:

Stress
Anxiety
Low mood
Sleep
Other mental health concerns, such as trauma, bereavement and eating disorders

The service is:

Free of charge
NHS-approved
Available 24/7 on any device
Completely anonymous

Back to school

It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious and stressed as the start of the school year approaches. Good Thinking has five top tips to help you focus on what you can control and feel more positive.

For more information about the service and to access free NHS-approved support and resources, visit Good Thinking.

University and College Students

Good Thinking’s Student Mental Health Hub supports students across London in maintaining positive mental health. In the hub, students will find:

Advice, tips and tools to help with stress, anxiety, low mood and sleep problems
Exclusive free access to NHS-approved mental wellbeing apps
Practical tips for student life, such as advice on starting university and coping with money worries
A guide to looking out for friends who may be struggling with their mental health
Quick quizzes and clinically-validated self-assessments for personalised advice and recommendations
Information about other free mental health services and support lines available, including advice on seeking urgent and crisis care

Support for eating disorders

Changes in eating patterns can be caused by many factors. If you spot changes in someone’s eating, try not to assume it’s an eating disorder and encourage them to speak to a GP for support.

See Transformation Partners in Health and Care’s resources on children and young people’s #eatingdisorders for more information:

Further support and information can be found by visiting Beat Eating Disorders.